Thyro-Cat, LLP

Treatment Options for Feline Hyperthyroidism

There are several treatment options for cats who suffer from feline hyperthyroidism. Each option has both advantages and disadvantages. A comparison of these will help you choose the right remedy for your pet.

Anti-Thyroid Dietary Treatment

The Hill's company has introduced a new diet called Hill's Prescription Diet y/d Feline Thyroid Health. This diet restricts iodine which is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, and so the thyroid cannot produce excessive amounts of the hormone. While somewhat effective, dietary treatment has a number of drawbacks for treating your cat:

Very restrictive: can only eat Hill's Prescription Diet, so no treats, no other brands of cat food, and no people food.

Feline Hyperthyroid Surgery

Feline hyperthyroidism surgery is a fairly easy procedure, and removes the thryoid adenoma (the benign tumor responsible for the condition). It's drawbacks are:

Surgery is expensive.

Anesthesia required can be difficult to older cats.

RadioIodine Therapy for Cats

Lastly, radioactive iodine therapy is administered by injection and destroys the hyperfunctioning tissue. It is a preferable and sophisticated treatment option for treating your cat's hyperthyroidism. It's drawbacks are minimal when compared with the above treatment options:

Requires an elongated stay in the feline hyperthyroidism treatment facility.

Can be expensive.

Despite the time and potential expense, treating your cat with radioiodine therapy has the following advantages over other forms of treatment, which are: